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Dr. Jo Allen, president of Meredith College, provides her insights on whether she sees institutional governance changing as colleges adopt new ways of doing things in response to external financial issues.
2017 September AAL Newsletter
Putting Lifelong Learning on the CEO Agenda
by Amy Edmonson and Bror Saxberg, McKinsey Quarterly, September 2017
Continuous learning must be a corporate priority, write a Harvard Business School professor and learning engineer at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. They explain the task for leaders is “upgrading your employees’ skills and mastering the collaboration, empathy, and meaning-making that will help your organization thrive.”
Leveraging Diversity: Transcending Labels for Breakthrough Results
by Nate Regier, SmartBrief/Leadership, September 7, 2017
Different perspectives are assets that can make businesses better when they are thought of as something to embrace and leverage, Nate Regier argues. He says other approaches to diversity “inadvertently reinforce the very problem we are trying to eliminate.
Chairing and Conducting Effective Meetings
by N. Karl Haden, Ph.D., AAL White Paper, September 1, 2017
AAL’s President shares advice on conducting effective meetings in this white paper. Whether you are seasoned at chairing meetings or are new to the experience, following his tips will make meetings more effective—for you and others.
How to Recognize Strategic Errors in Your Business
by Hugh Latif, The Globe and Mail, September 5, 2017
On strategic planning: Do you know how to recognize a strategic error versus a tactical or operational error? Hugh Latif explains that recognizing (and correcting) strategic errors is particularly important because they require a rethink of the organization’s strategic plan.
Coaching Is More Than Asking Questions
by Mary Jo Asmus, September 5, 2017
Mary Jo Asmus tells leaders how to be better at coaching. “You must trust the coaching process and know that when you give someone your full presence, ask open-ended questions, and listen intently, magic can happen,” she writes.
The World Champion of Public Speaking Says You Should Ask Yourself Three Questions Before Giving Any Presentation
by Richard Feloni, Business Insider, August 31, 2017
Are you presenting at an upcoming meeting? Toastmasters International’s 2017 champion of public speaking talks to Business Insider and explains three questions he asked himself before writing his winning speech that you should ask yourself before you prepare any presentations.
Dr. Matthew Poslusny, Senior Vice President and Provost of Meredith College, discusses how a chief academic officer (CAO) communicates with a board and faculty about academics and economics. He explains the role a chief financial officer (CFO) plays in facilitating these important discussions.
Dr. Jo Allen, President of Meredith College, provides her thoughts on what she believes our institutions will look like in 25 years, and how we should view the impact of our actions on the long-term viability of our higher education institutions.
Penn Dental Medicine and AAL to Launch Online Clinical Education Certificate Program
The University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine (Penn Dental Medicine) and the Atlanta-based Academy for Academic Leadership (AAL) are partnering to launch an online clinical education certificate program for dental faculty.
Dr. Jo Allen, President of Meredith College, examines the roles, responsibilities, and relationships of a president and chief academic officer in designing, developing, and implementing an institution’s program of effective change management.
2017 August AAL Newsletter
Lead with Your Heart
by Mark Nation, Lead Change Group, July 20, 2017
Many leaders have what Mark Nation calls the “Tin Man syndrome,” meaning they run on autopilot without being passionate about their work and interactions with others. Nation encourages leaders to approach the office with empathy, trust, and gratitude.
Getting Them to Trust You
by Rob Jenkins, The Chronicle of Higher Education, July 18, 2017
Which is more important to you: to be liked, or to be respected? Rob Jenkins says the answer is neither. A good administrator has to earn the faculty’s trust. He shares how to do it here.
How to Get Changes to Take Hold
by Gleb Tsipursky, Psychology Today, July 26, 2017
We all know the experience of reverting to old habits after committing to make a change. Gleb Tsipursky shares how to anticipate and plan workarounds for our barriers to adopting change, helping you to follow through on these commitments. Imagine yourself doing the new behavior to prepare your mind for action, or call on team members to help you and others practice.
Traits That Make a Good Communicator
by David Grossman, LeaderCommunicator Blog, July 24, 2017
David Grossman provides a list of 12 communication tips and says that good communicators develop trust, provide context and meaning, and reflect their words with their actions. “Just because you say something doesn’t mean others hear and understand you,” he explains.
Study Discovers What Makes Groups Smarter
by Adi Gaskell, The Horizons Tracker, July 20, 2017
When work networks are egalitarian, groups can become smarter through their members’ communications, but when a few people dominate a group, they can influence it in the wrong direction and decrease collective intelligence, a University of Pennsylvania study suggests. “The question becomes of course, how likely is it that networks will ever be truly egalitarian?” Adi Gaskell writes.
How Stopping Can Help You Move Forward
by Dan Black, Dan Black on Leadership, July 17, 2017
Busy leaders sometimes need to halt so they can make plans, reflect on experiences, and think through ideas and decisions, claims Dan Black. As he explains, “Stopping to propel forward is less about physically going or doing and all about mental actions.”
2017 July AAL Newsletter
What Should a College President Do in Year One?
by Nell Gluckman, The Chronicle of Higher Education, May 15, 2017
In the first year on the job, a college president may feel pressure to put out a glossy five-year plan or begin an ambitious capital campaign. But a new report by the Aspen Institute’s Task Force on the Future of the College Presidency presents a model of how a productive first year looks — and it doesn’t mention either of those big-ticket items.
How to Recognize a Leader
by Jesse Lyn Stoner, Seapoint Center Blog, June 13, 2017
Leadership qualities go beyond simply having followers or giving orders, with influence being a key marker of a leader, Jesse Lyn Stoner writes. “If you are leader of a ten-person team and only two of them follow you, you are not leading,” she notes.
What’s the Best-Kept Secret of Leadership?
by Susan Fowler, SmartBrief, June 9, 2017
Employees are better off when leaders don’t spend all of their time trying to motivate them or give feedback — at least when an environment exists that encourages their proactive action, Susan Fowler writes. One example of such encouragement is enabling reports to seek their own feedback and one-on-ones.
Leading in a Crisis: Be Calm and Have a Plan
by Rob Jenkins, 9 Virtues Blog, June 22, 2017
Leadership is never more important than in times of crisis, whether minor or not-so-minor, Rob Jenkins explains. “You have to remain calm. If you panic, everyone will panic, and the situation will disintegrate even further,” he says. A leader must have a plan to address the crisis, even if it is simply getting everyone together to devise a plan.
Are You a Self-Aware Leader?
by Interview with Tasha Eurich, Knowledge @ Wharton, June 14, 2017
Many people struggle with self-awareness, whether in an introspective sense or knowing how others see them, Tasha Eurich says. “The research shows that the more powerful you are, the more senior you are, and even the older you are as a manager, the less self-aware you’re likely to be,” she says.
Listen Up! 5 Ways To Improve Your Leadership Listening Skills
by Tanveer Naseer, Tanveernaseer.com Blog, June 20, 2017
Leaders can improve their effectiveness and make employees feel part of a team by becoming better listeners, Jackie Edwards writes. She describes five ways to become a better listener, including paying attention to nonverbal cues, putting down your phone and being supportive of people’s concerns and viewpoints.
